Indonesia condemns Bab Al-Mandeb ship attack, one crew missing

hartono · Aug 14, 2026

Indonesia condemns Bab Al-Mandeb ship attack, one crew missing

File - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono attends the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (ASEAN PMC) with Canada in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). ANTARA/HO-Indonesian Foreign Ministry/aa.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has strongly condemned an attack on a commercial vessel in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen that injured two Indonesian crew members and left another missing.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono conveyed Jakarta's strong protest during a phone call with Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zouba on Wednesday (August 12).

"Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono strongly condemned the attack and emphasized the need for immediate steps to prevent further escalation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said during a press briefing here on Thursday.

She added that Sugiono expressed appreciation to the Yemeni authorities for facilitating consular access and providing immediate assistance to the affected Indonesian crew members.

Sugiono also reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to working with Yemen to help stabilize the vital maritime corridor.

Regarding the status of the Indonesian crew aboard the MV Tihamah, the Foreign Ministry's Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, Heni Hamidah, confirmed that two crew members had been accounted for, while one remained missing.

"The other crew member has not been found, and intensive search efforts in the maritime area are still being carried out by the relevant parties," Heni said.

According to official diplomatic updates, one Indonesian crew member sustained minor injuries from debris and did not require hospitalization, while another suffered injuries that required treatment at a local hospital.

Heni said the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat was taking necessary measures to protect the Indonesian crew members, including preparing for their potential repatriation once security conditions permit.

The attack struck the merchant vessel MV Tihamah, which was carrying 11 crew members, including eight Pakistani nationals and three Indonesians.

Initial regional media reports indicated that the attack, allegedly carried out by Houthi forces in Yemen, also killed at least two Pakistani crew members.